Invisible zipper having ornamental slider bodies

ABSTRACT

A zipper having ornamental slider bodies is disclosed to include functional slider bodies coupled to the teeth chains at the back side and exposed to the outside after installation of the zipper in a product, for example, clothes, bag, shoe, or the like, and a plurality of ornamental slider bodies coupled to the teeth chains at the back side and exposed with the functional slider bodies to the outside, each ornamental slider body having an ornament for pulling to move the respective ornamental slider body on the teeth chains and a locking device for locking the respective ornamental slider body to the teeth chains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a zipper more specifically,to an invisible zipper, which has functional slider bodies andornamental slider bodies attached to the teeth chains at the back sideand exposed to the outside after installation of the invisible zipper ina product.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Conventional zippers include visible type and invisible type. The teethchain may be made of metal, resin, or nylon. Actually, conventionalzippers may be made in any of a variety of forms, for example, closeend, X type, O type, and etc.

A conventional zipper of any known type generally comprises two tapes,two teeth chains, a slider body, pins at the ends of teeth chains, a topstop, and a bottom stop. The slider body is provided with a slider pull.Further, the slider body has a center structure formed of top and bottomcovers. During sliding movement of the slider body, the center structurecauses the teeth chains to close or open. The slider body of aconventional zipper is a functional element for zipper closing/openingcontrol.

Conventional invisible zippers are commonly used in clothes, bags,shoes, and various other personal items. Because the teeth chains arekept on the inside of the product using the zipper, the teeth chains arekept from sight when the user closed the zipper, and only one linearclosing trace is left on the outside of the product.

When installed an invisible zipper in a product (clothes, bag, or shoe)in the reversed direction and coupled multiple functional slider bodiesto the back side of the invisible zipper as shown in FIG. 20, thefunctional slider bodies can be individually moved on the teeth chainsand can work as decorate means to decorate the product. However, becauseeach slider body has a center structure, a hole is left between theslider body and the teeth chains. Further, every slider body can bepositioned on the teeth chains in a fixed position, preventingdisengagement between the teeth chains. Therefore, this imaginary designis not workable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. According to one aspect of the present invention, the zipper is aninvisible zipper comprising two tapes, two teeth chains respectivelyfixedly fastened to the tapes, a top stop affixed to the tapes at oneend, a bottom stop affixed to one the tape at one end remote from thetop stop at least one functional slider body coupled to the teeth chainsfor pulling by the user to close/open the teeth chains, and at least oneornamental slider body, wherein the ornamental slider body eachcomprises a hollow π-shaped base bridging the teeth chains and tworetaining portions respectively inwardly extended from a bottom of thehollow base at two sides and respectively coupled to the teeth chainsfor enabling the respective ornamental slider body to be moved on theteeth chains; the at least functional slider is respectively coupled tothe teeth chains at a back side; the at least one functional slider andthe at least one ornamental slider are disposed at the same siderelative to the teeth chains. According to another aspect of the presentinvention, each ornamental slider body comprises a top ring and anornament attached to the top ring. According to still another aspect ofthe present invention, each ornamental slider body comprises a lockingdevice adapted to lock the respective ornamental slider body to theteeth chains. The locking device has a free end movable through a holein the respective ornamental slider body into engagement with the teethchains. According to still another aspect of the present invention, theornament of each ornamental slider body can be made of any of a varietyof materials in any of a variety of shapes. Further, the zipper can be aclose end zipper, X type zipper, O type zipper, or any of a variety ofstyles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nylon zipper embodying to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the nylon zipper according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a metal (resin) zipper embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the metal (resin) zipper according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a slider body according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a close end zipper embodying the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an X type zipper embodying the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an O type zipper embodying the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates different ornaments attached to the ornamental sliderbodies according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a back side view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a spring plate locking deviceinstalled in an ornamental slider body according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an auto locking device installedin an ornamental slider body according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing another example of spring platelocking device installed in an ornamental slider body according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing another alternate form of theornamental slider body with a locking device according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing another alternate form of ornamentat an ornamental slider body according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an imaginary view of a zipper according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a nylon zipper embodying to the present invention.FIGS. 3 and 4 show a metal (resin) zipper embodying the presentinvention. The design concept of the present invention is to attach oneor a number of ornamental slider bodies 1 to the teeth chains 3 of thezipper 2 at the reversed side.

The ornamental slider body 1, as shown in FIG. 5, is a hollow,substantially π-shaped member bridging the teeth chains 3, having tworetaining portions 11 respectively inwardly extended from the bottom attwo sides and a top ring 12 to which a slider pull 13 is connected forpulling by hand to move the ornamental slider body 1 on the teeth chains3.

The zipper 2 can be an invisible nylon zipper as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,a metal or resin zipper as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. There is nolimitation to the type of the zipper. However, after installation of thezipper 2, the teeth chains 3 of the zipper 2 must be exposed to theoutside for the bridging of the ornamental slider body 1. The invisiblezipper can be a close end, X type, O type, or any of a variety of otherknown types (see FIGS. 6˜8). Basically, the invisible zipper 2 comprisestwo tapes 21, two teeth chains 31, 32, at least one functional sliderbody 22, a top stop 24, and a bottom stop 25. The functional slider body22 has a center structure 220, and is provided with a slider pull 221.

The functional slider body 22 and the teeth chains 3 are attached to theteeth chains 31, 32 at the back side such that the functional sliderbody 22 and the ornamental slider body 1 are at the same side on theteeth chains 3 of the zipper 2. By means of the center structure 220 ofthe functional slider body 22, the functional slider body 22 can bemoved to close/open the teeth chains 31, 32. The ornamental slider body1 does not have such a center structure, and is bridging the teethchains 31, 32.

The ornamental slider body 1 is arranged subject to the type of theinvisible zipper 2. In the close end zipper 2 shown in FIG. 6, theornamental slider bodies 1 are set between one functional slider body 22and the bottom stop 25; in the X type zipper 2 shown in FIG. 7, theornamental slider bodies 1 are set between two functional slider bodies22; in the O type zipper 2 shown in FIG. 8, the ornamental slider bodies1 are respectively set between one functional slider body 22 and the topstop 24 or bottom stop 25.

Each ornamental slider body 1 is provided with a slider pull 13.Alternatively, each ornamental slider body 1 can be provided with anornament 13 a. The ornaments 13 a can be made from any of a variety ofsuitable materials, having any of a variety of shapes, for example, theshape of a start or crescent moon (see FIG. 9).

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the two reversed sides of a zipper constructedaccording to the present invention. When in use, the back side of thezipper is stitched to the cloth, bag, shoe, or any of a variety ofproducts, keeping the ornamental slider bodies 1, the functional sliderbodies 22 and the teeth chains 3 exposed to the outside (the stitchingmethod of fastening the zipper to the product is same as theconventional techniques to stitch a nylon, metal, or resin zipper to aproduct). In general, the present invention uses an invisible zipper andstitch the invisible zipper to the product reversely with the insideout, keeping the teeth chains 3, the ornamental slider bodies 1 and theattached ornaments 13 a exposed to the outside of the product todecorate the product.

According to the present invention, a locking device may be provided atthe top side of each ornamental slider body 1 so that each ornamentalslider body 1 can be moved on the teeth chains 3 freely and then lockedto the teeth chains 3 at the desired location.

The aforesaid locking device can be a spring lock or any of a variety ofauto locking designs. FIGS. 11˜18 show different designs of the lockingdevice.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show an ornamental slider body 1 a having a spring platetype locking device. By means of operating the attached slider pull 13or ornament 13 a, the free end 511 of the spring plate 51 is controlledto pass through a hole 14 in the ornamental slider body 1 a and toengage the teeth chains 3, thereby locking the ornamental slider body 1a to the teeth chains 3. When disengaging the free end 511 of the springplate 51 from the teeth chains 3, the ornamental slider body 1 a isunlocked and can be moved on the teeth chains 3.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an ornamental slider body 1 b having an autolocking device. According to this embodiment, the auto locking devicecomprises a spur 52, which has the free end 521 thereof inserted througha hole 14 in the ornamental slider body 1 b and forced into engagementwith the teeth chains 3 to lock the ornamental slider body 1 b to theteeth chains 3. A spring plate 53 is provided to hold down the spur 52,keeping the free end 521 of the spur 52 in engagement with the teethchains 3. When pulling the attached slider pull 13 or ornament 13 a, thespur 52 is forced to disengage the free end 521 from the teeth chains 3and the hole 14 in the ornamental slider body 1 b, enabling theornamental slider body 1 b to be moved freely.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show an ornamental slider body 1 c having a spring platetype locking device. Pulling the attached slider pull 13 or ornament 13a controls movement of the free end 541 of a spring plate 54 through ahole 14 in the ornamental slider body 1 c into engagement with the teethchains 3.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show an ornamental slider body 1 d having a lockingdevice, which comprises a hook 56 and a spring 55 supporting the hook56. The spring 55 holds the hook 56 in a hole 14 in the ornamentalslider body id, keeping the free end 561 of the hook 56 in engagementwith the teeth chains. Pulling the attached slider pull 13 or ornament13 a causes the hook 56 to disengage the free end 561 from the teethchains.

A prototype of zipper having ornamental slider bodies has beenconstructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜19. The zipper havingornamental slider bodies functions smoothly to provide all of thefeatures discussed earlier.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. For example, the aforesaid top ring 12 may be eliminated,and an ornament 15 of any of a variety of shapes (for example, theornament 15 shown in FIG. 19 has the shape of a button) may be formedintegral with the ornamental slider body to decorate the ornamentalslider body and for pulling by the user to move the ornamental sliderbody on the teeth chains. Accordingly, the invention is not to belimited except as by the appended claims.

1. A zipper comprising two tapes, two teeth chains respectively fixedlyfastened to said tapes, a top stop affixed to said tapes at one end, abottom stop affixed to one said tape at one end remote from said topstop at least one functional slider body coupled to said teeth chainsfor pulling by the user to close/open said teeth chains, and at leastone ornamental slider body, wherein said ornamental slider body eachcomprises a hollow base bridging said teeth chains and two retainingportions respectively inwardly extended from a bottom of said hollowbase at two sides and respectively coupled to said teeth chains forenabling the respective ornamental slider body to be moved on said teethchains; said at least functional slider is respectively coupled to saidteeth chains at a back side; said at least one functional slider andsaid at least one ornamental slider are disposed at the same siderelative to said teeth chains.
 2. The zipper as claimed in claim 1,wherein the hollow base of each said ornamental slider body has aπ-shaped profile.
 3. The zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein each saidornamental slider body comprises a top ring and an ornament attached tosaid top ring.
 4. The zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein each saidornamental slider body comprises an ornament formed integral with a topthereof.
 5. The zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the zipper is aclose end zipper; said at least one ornamental slider body includes oneornamental slider body set between one said functional slider body andsaid bottom stop.
 6. The zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein thezipper is an X type zipper; said at least one ornamental slider bodyincludes one ornamental slider body set between two functional sliderbodies.
 7. The zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the zipper is an Otype zipper; said at least one ornamental slider body includes a firstornamental slider body set between one said functional slider body andsaid top stop, and a second ornamental slider body set between one saidfunctional slider body and said bottom stop.
 8. The zipper as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each said ornamental slider body comprises a lockingdevice adapted to lock the respective ornamental slider body to saidteeth chains, said locking device having a free end movable through ahole in the respective ornamental slider body into engagement with saidteeth chains.
 9. The zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein each saidornamental slider body comprises a spring plate locking device adaptedto lock he respective ornamental slider body to said teeth chains. 10.The zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said ornamental sliderbody comprises an auto locking device that locks the respectiveornamental slider body to said teeth chains.